Music Technology (HMTC)

This is an introductory course to music technology for first year students. Students are taught the basic principles of the sound system, including microphones, speakers, effects processors, analog and digital audio tape machines. Students then learn about MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). They will be introduced to fundamental business aspects of the music industry such as copyright basics. (Monday and Wednesday) Additionally, first year students are assigned student mentors from among the 12 high school students for 2009-10 participating from 3 area high schools. These mentors are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year music tech students and former graduates from the "Hunt". All students and mentors are also required to take either voice, piano, or composition lessons from Mrs. Binns (Piano & voice) or Mr. Binns (Theory and Composition) in addition to their music tech and music industry instruction. This year, on December the 19th, 15 of the students braved the elements and enjoyed the first of three field trips to an area recording studio, although it was cut short by 3 hours due to inclimate weather and transportation recalling the bus. Nevertheless, they were provided instruction in recording techniques from the sound engineer Julian Redcross at the Edustar Performing Arts Center's recording studio. They also recorded one song that was featured on the "Huntington Middle School Morning Show" directed by Mr. Crudup. Osiris Miller, a 13 year-old seventh grader at the "Hunt", was the lead co-writer and arranger. He was last seen surrounded by five girls autographing a number of CDs of his song.(: Other members of his team were "Big Courtney", "Skittles", and DeShawn, all of which are high school mentors and first year music tech students. Osiris is a second year music tech student who was selected as "Sound Engineer of the Year" during the 2008-09 school year. He is also a second year piano student of Mrs. Binns and a budding songwriter! A draft music video was made of the hip-hop/R&B soundtrack which will be released as part of a compilation CD at the end of the school year. The video above is just a sample draft of the video and by no means the completed project which will be achieved with the help of Mr. Crudup's expertise.